Process and a machine for the manufacture of covers for books and the like, and covers produced thereby

ABSTRACT

A conveyer carries in series sheets of card or the like, having rectangular central apertures. When a layer of adhesive has been applied, a portion of flexible strip, which is wider than the central aperture, is applied to the central part of the lower face of each sheet. There is deposited on the lower face of this strip portion a layer of adhesive which is narrower than the central aperture, and a strip of card or the like is then applied to this layer. The inlet and outlet margins of each sheet are then sheared along parallel cutting lines which intersect the central aperture at right angles. When the corners have been trimmed, the margins of the sheets can then be turned over and stuck to the lower face.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of coversfor books and the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

The process according to the invention is characterized in that itcomprises the operations of:

arranging a plurality of sheets of card or the like, having overalldimensions which are greater than those of the covers to be produced andhaving a central aperture with a substantially elongate rectangularshape and dimensions which are greater than those of the spines of thecovers to be produced;

feeding these sheets in series to a conveyer which can entrain and guidethis series of sheets in a direction parallel with the aperture,supporting these sheets such that a central portion of the lower facearound this aperture is left free;

applying a first layer of adhesive to a central strip of the lower faceof each sheet about the central aperture;

applying to this first layer of adhesive a portion of a flexible stripwhich is wider than the apertures in these sheets;

applying a second layer of adhesive to a central strip of the lower faceof the portion of the flexible strip applied to each sheet;

applying to this strip of adhesive a strip of card or the like which isnarrower than the apertures in the sheets;

then shearing the ends of each sheet along lines which are parallel withone another and are perpendicular to and intersect the central aperture.

According to a further characteristic of the process, the flexible stripportions and the strips of card or the like are produced as a result ofstrips of flexible material and of card or the like, respectively, beingcut transversely, the strips being wider than the length of the spine ofthe cover to be produced.

Advantageously, these flexible strip portions and strips of card or thelike are applied to the sheets with a rotational movement in a planewhich is substantially at right angles to that of the sheets, such that,at the moment when these strip portions or strips are applied, theirspeed is substantially equal to the advance speed of the sheets.

The invention also relates to an automatic machine for producing coversfor books and the like.

A further subject of the invention is the covers for books and the likeproduced with the process or machine defined above.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomeclear from the following detailed description, given with reference tothe appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration in plan view (viewed from above)of an automatic machine for producing covers for books in accordancewith the invention;

FIGS. 2a to 2 h are plan views of the lower or internal face ofsemifinished products obtained in the successive stations of theautomatic machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in section, of an adhesive applicatordevice comprised in the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial perspective views showing, in two differentoperating states, a station for the cutting and application of portionsof a flexible strip to a sheet of card, comprised in the machine of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an automatic machine for producing covers forbooks and the like according to the invention comprises a sheet feedingmachine 1 of known type, such as, for example, a so-called feederproduced and marketed by the TEKGRAF company or by the MULLER MARTINIcompany. This machine comprises a loader 2 in which is disposed a stackof rectangular sheets 3 of card or the like. By means of devices withsuction cups or the like, for example, the feeding machine 1, operatingin known manner, takes the sheets from the loader 3 and deposits them inseries on a conveyer 4. In the embodiment illustrated, the conveyer 4comprises two chains 5 which run in the direction of the arrow F betweentwo stationary side walls or guides 6. Connected to the chains 5 areentrainment members 7 which engage one side of a sheet 3 of carddeposited on the chains of the machine 1.

The upwardly turned upper face of the sheets 3 of card or the like isthe face corresponding, in the final cover, to the outer surface of thecover, or to the so-called first and fourth (faces) of the cover.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2a, each sheet 3 of card deposited on thechains 5 has a central aperture 8 of a substantially elongaterectangular shape. The dimensions of this aperture are greater thanthose of the spine of the cover to be produced.

A first gluing station, generally indicated 9 in FIG. 1, is providedalong the chain conveyer 4, downstream of the feeding machine 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the gluing station 9 comprisesa container 10 in the form of a tank, disposed below the chain conveyer4 and containing a liquid adhesive 11, for example a cold-type vinyladhesive. The lower part of a wheel or roller 12 rotatably mounted on ashaft 13 is immersed in the adhesive 11, and its upper part extendsbetween the chains 5 of the conveyer 4, adjacent the path of the sheets3 of card or the like. As a result of the rotation (controlled by amotor which is not illustrated) according to the arrow F1 of FIG. 3, thelateral cylindrical surface of the wheel or roller 12 transfers a layerof adhesive and applies it to a central strip of the lower face of thesheets 3 transported by the chains 5, about the central aperture 8. InFIGS. 1 and 2b, the central strip of the lower face, provided withadhesive, of each sheet 3 is indicated 14. It can be seen that FIG. 2bshows the lower face of a sheet 3 leaving the gluing station 9, whilst,in FIG. 1, the sheet is viewed from above, and the strip of adhesiveapplied to this sheet is shown accordingly by hatched lines.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 3, the wheel or roller 2 is associatedwith a blade or scraper device 15 which reduces the thickness of thelayer of adhesive 11 transferred by the periphery of this wheel orroller 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the blade or scraper device 15is fixed to a side wall of the container 11 and its free end extends inthe vicinity of the periphery of the wheel or roller 12.

Advantageously, the gluing station 9 further comprises a counter-roller16 which idles about an axis parallel with that of the wheel or roller12 and is disposed such that it presses each sheet 3 of card againstthis wheel or roller 12.

Downstream of the gluing station 9, along the conveyer 4, is provided afurther station (generally indicated 17 in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5) in which,as will be described in further detail, a portion of a flexible strip,such as fabric or the like, is applied to the central strip, providedwith adhesive, of each sheet 3.

As can be better seen, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the station 17 comprises anapparatus 18 which feeds the flexible strip 19 in a controlled manner ina direction substantially at right angles to the advance direction ofthe conveyer 4 comprising the chains 5. In the embodiment illustrated,this apparatus comprises a stationary support structure 20, at one endof which a coil 21 of strip is supported such that it can rotate about ahorizontal axis. From this coil, the strip 19 passes over an idlingtransmission roller 22 with a horizontal axis, and then between a pairof opposite, horizontal rollers 23 and 24, of which at least one ismotor-driven (preferably the lower roller 24). By means of theserollers, the strip 19 is advanced towards a cutting device, generallyindicated 25, disposed below the path of the sheets 3 carried by theconveyer with chains 5.

The cutting device 25 comprises a fixed blade 26 directed transverselyto the advance direction of the strip 19. This blade 26 is disposedslightly above the path of the strip 19.

A cutting and holding member 27, which is movable in a vertical planeand of which one edge is parallel with and adjacent the cutting edge ofthe blade 26, cooperates with the fixed blade 26. This movable cuttingand holding member 27 can in particular be moved between a loweredposition, shown in FIG. 4, in which its edge adjacent the blade 26extends below the strip 19 to be cut, and a raised position, shown inFIG. 5, in which this edge extends above the cutting edge of this blade.

In the embodiment illustrated, the movable cutting and holding member 27is parallelepipedal. In its lowered state (FIG. 4), the upper horizontalface of this member is disposed immediately below the end of the strip19 to be cut.

The member 27 is articulated on the ends of two twin cranks 28 which aretorsionally rigid with two parallel, horizontal shafts 29, of which atleast one is rotatably driven by a drive assembly generally indicated30. The cutting and holding member 27 can, therefore, be rotated andtranslated in a substantially vertical plane centred between the guides6 and associated with the conveyer with chains 5.

In operation, the rollers 23 and 24 advance the end of the flexiblestrip 19 between the fixed blade 26 and the cutting and holding member27 whilst the latter is in the lowered position. The drive assembly 30then rotates the shafts 29 and imparts to the cutting and holding member27 a rotary—translation movement such that this member, movingpractically in contact with the blade 26 and with its edge turnedtowards the blade, cuts the end portion of the flexible strip 19 whichthus rests on the upper face of this member. Advantageously, the member27 comprises suction pipes which terminate in correspondence withapertures in its upper face. These pipes, connected to a vacuum pressuresource (not illustrated) by means of a pipe indicated 31 in FIG. 4,allow the portion of the strip 19 which has been cut to be held steadilyon this member, whilst this member continues its rotary—translationmovement, in particular in the upward direction.

The operation of the feeding apparatus 18 and of the cutting device 25is synchronized, by known means which are not illustrated, with theadvance of the conveyer with chains 5 such that, when the cutting andholding member 27 reaches its highest position (FIG. 5), this memberapplies the cut strip portion 19′ against the central strip, providedwith adhesive, of the lower face of a sheet 3 carried by this conveyer.Subsequently, this sheet 3 continues to advance, as indicated by thearrow F2 of FIG. 5, whilst the cutting and holding member 17, continuingits movement, returns to its lower position, in order to cut a furtherportion of the flexible strip 19.

FIG. 2c shows the lower face of the sheet 3 of card or the like at theoutlet of the station 17; as can be seen, the strip portion 19′ appliedthereto extends beyond the longer sides of the aperture 8.

On the other hand, the upper face of the sheet 3 at the outlet of thestation 17 can be seen, on a smaller scale, in FIG. 1: the flexiblestrip portion 19′ applied to its lower face can be seen through thecentral aperture 8.

Downstream of the station 17, the conveyer with chains 5 transfers thesheets 3 to a pressing station indicated 31 in FIG. 1. This stationcomprises pairs of counter-rotating pressing rollers or a pair ofcounter-rotating pressing strips which compress the flexible stripportion 19′ firmly against the sheet of card or the like.

Downstream of the station 31 is provided a further station 32 forapplying adhesive, similar to the station 9 described above. In thisstation, a wheel or roller which is immersed in the liquid adhesivepresent in a container applies a layer of this adhesive to a centralstrip of the lower face of the strip portion 19′ applied to each sheet3. The width of this strip or layer of adhesive is preferably equal toor greater than the width of the spines of the covers to be produced,and is indicated 33 in FIG. 2d. As these Figures show, the strip ofadhesive 33 is preferably narrower than the central aperture 8 in thesheet.

The station 32 is followed by a station 34 (FIG. 1) structurally similarto the station 17 described above. In this station, there is applied tothe central strip, provided with adhesive 33, of the lower face of thestrip portion 19′ applied to each sheet a strip or centre consisting ofcard or the like, which is narrower than the central aperture 8 in thesheet and substantially the same width as the desired width of the spineof the cover to be produced. To this end, the station 34 comprises acoil 35 from which unwinds a strip 36 of card or the like, which passesover a transmission roller 37 and then between two opposite rollers, ofwhich only the upper one can be seen in FIG. 1, in which it is indicated38. The strip 36 of card or the like has a transverse width which is atleast equal to, but is preferably greater than, the length of thecentral aperture 8 in each sheet 3. The station 34 further comprises acutting device similar to the one described above with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, which cuts successive strips of this strip, of which eachis applied to the strip of adhesive carried centrally by the stripportion 19′ applied to each sheet.

At the outlet of the station 34, the lower face of the sheet issubstantially as shown in FIG. 2e, in which the strip of card or thelike applied centrally to the flexible strip portion 19′ is indicated36′.

Downstream of the station 34, the sheets are advanced to a furtherpressing station 39, similar to the station 32 described above.

The station 39 is followed by a shearing station 40. In this station, ashearing machine of known type, for example of the rotary type, shearsthe inlet and outlet ends of each sheet 3 perpendicular to the centralaperture 8, along parallel cutting lines indicated L1 and L2 in FIGS. 1and 2f. As can be seen better in FIG. 2f, the cutting lines L1 and L2intersect the central aperture 8 in the vicinity of its ends.Consequently, at the outlet of the station 40 (shown in FIG. 2f), thesemifinished product is composed of two jackets or covers 3′ connectedby the flexible strip portion 19′, to the centre of which a strip 36′ ofcard or the like is applied.

This semifinished product can in principle already be used as a coverfor books and the like. In this case, the faces of the jackets or covers3′ of FIG. 2f constitute the second and third (faces) of the cover,intended to be stuck to endpapers of a book block. In this case, thestrip 36′ of card or the like acts as the centre of the spine of thecover, whilst the parts 19′ of fabric or the like between the longersides of the strip 36′ and the adjacent sides of the covers 3′ act ashinges or joints which, in use, permit easy articulation of the coverfor opening or closing.

In order to produce covers with margins which are more robust and betterfinished, the semifinished products leaving the shearing station 40 canbe fed to a trimming station 41, of known type, in which the corners ofthese semifinished products are sheared obliquely, their lower facesthen assuming the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2g.

The resultant semi-finished products are fed to a turning/gluing machine42 (FIG. 1), of known type, which folds the margins of thesesemifinished products along the lines indicated L3 and L4 in FIG. 2gand, when adhesive has been applied, turns them onto the lower faces ofthese semifinished products which then assume the configurationillustrated in FIG. 2h. This Figure shows definitively the appearance ofthe interior of the finished cover which can thus be applied to a bookblock using the casing or stitching system.

The covers which can be produced by the process and machine according tothe invention are simpler and more economical than the conventionalcovers bound in rigid paper boards, and the cover planes havearticulation characteristics which are considerably better than thecovers of the so-called “Dutch type”.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the formsof embodiment and details can be varied widely with respect to what hasbeen described and illustrated above purely by way of non-limitingexample, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for manufacturing covers for books andthe like, characterized in that it comprises the operations of:arranging a plurality of sheets (3) of card having overall dimensionswhich are greater than those of the covers to be produced and having acentral aperture (8) with a substantially elongate rectangular shape anddimensions which are greater than those of the spines of the covers tobe produced; feeding these sheets (3) in series to a conveyer (4, 5)which can entrain and guide this series of sheets (3) in a directionparallel with the aperture (8), supporting these sheets such that acentral portion of the lower face around this aperture (8) is left free;applying a first layer (14) of adhesive to a central strip of the lowerface of each sheet (3) about the central aperture (8); applying to thisfirst layer (14) of adhesive a portion of a flexible strip (19′) whichis wider than the apertures (8) in these sheets (3); applying a secondlayer (33) of adhesive to a central strip of the lower face of theportion of the flexible strip (19′) applied to each sheet (33); applyingto this strip (33) of adhesive a strip (36′) of card or the like whichis narrower than the apertures (8) in the sheets (3); and then shearingthe ends of each sheet (3) along lines (L1, L2) which are parallel withone another and are perpendicular to and intersect the central aperture(8).
 2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that theflexible strip portions (19′) and the strips (36′) of card are producedas a result of a flexible material strip (19) and a strip (36) of cardrespectively, which is wider than the length of the back of the book tobe produced being cut transversely.
 3. A process according to claim 2,characterized in that the flexible strip portions (19′) and the strips(36′) of card are applied to the sheets (3) with a rotational movementin a plane at right angles to the plane of the sheets (3) such that, atthe moment when the strip portions (19′) or strips (36′) are applied,their speed is substantially the same as the advance speed of the sheets(3).
 4. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheets(3, 3′) of card are finally trimmed, and their margins are folded andstuck onto their lower faces.
 5. A machine for manufacturing covers forbooks and the like, characterized in that it comprises in combination: asheet feeding machine (1) which can deposit in series onto a conveyer (4to 7) sheets (3) of card having overall dimensions which are greaterthan those of the covers to be produced and having central apertures (8)of a substantially elongate rectangular shape and dimensions which aregreater than those of the spines of the covers to be produced; theconveyer (4 to 7) being produced such that it entrains and guides theseries of sheets (3) in a direction parallel with the aperture (8),supporting these sheets (3) such that the central portion of the lowerface about this aperture (8) is left free; a first adhesive applicatordevice (9) which is interposed along the path of the conveyer (4 to 7)and can apply a layer of adhesive (14) to a central strip of the lowerface of each sheet (3), about the central aperture (8); a first feedingdevice (18) which can feed, in a controlled manner, a flexible materialstrip (19) which is wider than the length of the spine of the cover tobe produced; this strip (19) being fed in a direction which issubstantially at right angles to the advance direction of the conveyer(4 to 7); a first cutting device (25) which is disposed downstream ofthe feeding machine (18) of the flexible strip (19) and below the pathof the conveyer (4 to 7), and which can cut this strip (19)transversely, producing at each cut a strip portion (19′) having alength which is less than or equal to the width of the central strip(14), provided with adhesive, of these sheets (3); a first applicatordevice (27 to 30) which is associated with the first cutting device (25)and which can receive the flexible strip portion (19′) each time it iscut, and which can bring this strip portion (19′) into contact with thestrip (14′), provided with adhesive, of the lower face of a sheet (3)transported by this conveyer (4 to 7); a second adhesive applicatordevice (32) which can apply a second layer of adhesive (33) to a centralstrip of the lower face of the strip portion (19′) applied to each sheet(3); a second strip feeding machine (35) which can feed a strip (36) ofcard of which the width is greater than or equal to the length of thespine of the cover to be produced; this strip (36) being fed in adirection substantially at right angles to the advance direction of theconveyer (4 to 7); a second cutting device (34), which is disposeddownstream of the second strip feeding machine (35) and below theconveyer (4 to 7), and which can cut the strip (36) of cardtransversely, producing at each cut a strip (36′) which is narrower thanthe width of the central aperture (B) of the sheets (3); a secondapplicator device (34) which is associated with the second cuttingdevice and which can receive the strip (36′) of card each time it iscut, and can bring this strip (36′) into contact with the strip ofadhesive (33) applied to the central part of the lower face of theflexible strip portion (19′) applied to each sheet (3); a shearingstation (40) disposed near the conveyer (4 to 7) downstream of thesecond cutting device (34) and disposed so as to shear the inlet andoutlet ends of each sheet (3) perpendicular to the central aperture (8),along parallel cutting lines (L1, L2) intersecting the aperture (8); andcontrol means which can coordinate and synchronize the operation of theabove devices with the advance of the conveyer (4 to 7).
 6. A machineaccording to claim 5, characterized in that, downstream of the shearingstation (40), it further comprises a trimming machine (41) which canshear the corners of each sheet (3) obliquely and, downstream, agluing/turning machine(42) which can apply adhesive to the margins ofthe lower face of each of the sheets (3) and then turn over the marginsonto the lower face of each sheet (3).
 7. A machine according to claim5, characterized in that, downstream of each of the strip applicatordevices (27-30; 34), it comprises a pressing machine (31; 39).
 8. Amachine according to claim 5, characterized in that each cutting device(25) comprises a fixed blade (26) which is directed transversely to theadvance direction of the strip (19; 36) to be cut and which is disposedabove the path of the strip (19; 36), and a knife (27) which can movevertically adjacent this fixed blade (26) between a lowered position inwhich it extends below the strip (19; 36) to be cut and a raisedposition in which it extends above the edge of the fixed blade (26). 9.A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the movable knife(27) consists of an upper edge of a movable member (27) of which theupper surface can receive the cut portion or strip (19′; 36′); thismovable member (27) being associated with drive means (28-30) which canmove the member against an overlying sheet (3) carried by the conveyer(4 to 7) in order to apply the cut portion or strip of strip (19′; 36′)to this sheet (3).
 10. A machine according to claim 9, characterized inthat the drive means (28-30) are arranged so as to cause this movablemember (27) to perform an upward translation movement combined with arotation in a vertical plane, in a sense such that, when the stripportion or strip (19′; 36′) is applied to a sheet (3) carried by theconveyer (4 to 7), the member (27) advances in the same direction as theconveyer (4 to 7) and substantially at the same speed.
 11. A machineaccording to claim 9, characterized in that the upper face of themovable member (27) has a plurality of apertures communicating with avacuum pressure source .
 12. A machine according to claim 5,characterized in that each adhesive applicator device (9; 31) comprises:a container (10) which is open at the top, contains a liquid adhesive(11), and is disposed below the conveyer (4 to 7); and a roller (12)rotatably supported between the conveyer (4 to 7) and the container (10)such that Its lower part is immersed in the adhesive (11) in thecontainer (10), and its upper part extends adjacent the path of thesheets (3) carried by the conveyer (4 to 7).
 13. A machine according toclaim 12, characterized in that the roller (12) is associated with ascraper device (15) which can reduce the thickness of the adhesive (11)removed from the container (10) by the periphery of the roller (12). 14.A cover for books produced by the process according to claim
 1. 15. Acover for books produced by the machine according to claim 5.